Dustin, 35, and Katie Maletich, 32, from Oregon, found themselves at the center of a heated online debate after sharing a TikTok video showcasing their unique parenting technique. The couple went viral for making their nine-year-old son, Tommy, perform push-ups and squats as a form of punishment, a method they staunchly defended against public scrutiny.

The incident, captured on an at-home camera, began when Tommy argued with his mother over using her phone. When Katie told him to stop, Tommy retorted with, "OK, chill." This remark immediately caught his father Dustin's attention. "Did you just tell your mum to chill?" a surprised Dustin questioned, before promptly instructing Tommy to begin doing push-ups.

Tommy initially complied, completing ten push-ups before expressing his inability to continue. However, Dustin insisted he keep going, pushing his son to complete 20 push-ups. Following this, the father then informed Tommy that he would also need to do 60 squats. After completing the extensive physical exertion, Dustin explained his reasoning to Tommy: "Do we tell mum to 'chill out'? Absolutely not. I wouldn't let anybody else talk to her like that so you don't get to talk to her like that." The video concluded with Tommy apologizing to his mother, and Dustin expressing his love for his son, followed by a hug, emphasizing an outcome rooted in affection and understanding.

Katie shared the footage on TikTok under the username @raisingmaletich, captioning it, "I will never stop being grateful to be raising kids with a real man who knows how to be a father, especially to his boys. This is masculinity." The video quickly amassed over 1.4 million views, sparking a fierce debate among viewers.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Dustin and Katie defended their approach. Dustin clarified that the physical exercises were not excessively difficult for Tommy, as the family regularly works out together for fun. He noted Tommy's immediate remorse when questioned, describing him as a "great kid" who is generally very apologetic after making mistakes. Dustin highlighted that Tommy apologized to Katie without prompting and that the disciplinary moment concluded with a clear expression of love.

Dustin elaborated that he believes physical exercise helps Tommy "refocus when he feels that he doesn’t have control over his body and mind which always makes him more receptive to healthy communication." Katie shared that this "corrective parenting moment" was particularly meaningful to her because she grew up in a home marked by "toxicity, emotionally reactive parenting, yelling and anger," finding inspiration in Dustin's calm and structured discipline. Addressing the online backlash, Dustin asserted that every parent chooses to raise their children as they "see fit," as long as there is no intentional harm. Their ultimate goal, he stated, is to raise Tommy to be a "healthy, happy, resilient and respectful human."

The online community remained divided. Supporters praised Dustin for demonstrating "tough love" and holding children accountable, with one commenter noting, "the fact he even said 'don’t give up' & 'good one', encouraging him while also being a parent & disciplining him! literally a perfect example of what good parenting should look like in a situation like this!" Critics, however, expressed reservations about using physical exercise as a form of punishment, though some still acknowledged the importance of teaching respect.